Oils and Pastels by Margaret Dyer

Everybody has arrived safely: Jane and Michelle from Austin; Jen from Chicago; Kim from Detroit, Katie from Alabama-right over the Georgia state line, and Cheryl from La Grange, GA, dribbled in throughout the afternoon as Roza, Beata and I roamed Florence. We snapped photos, ducked into little shops and stood in awe of the 14th century multi-colored marble Duomo--the magnificent cathedral in the center of town. We wandered the medieval streets (Dante lived on theses streets), visited a museum of Etruscan sculpture and had a little lunch and gelato along the way. Photos don't do the Duomo justice. It is truly awesome. I never use that word. We three got back to the apartment in time to greet the slightly refreshed new arrivals. Several were familiar faces from previous workshops I had taught, and several knew each other, so it was a bit of a homecoming to see old friends. By the time this workshop is over, we will all know each other well. Debra and Ivano had a friend, Mariano...

We checked out of the apartment this morning to move into a larger one closer to the art studio, which will accommodate more of the students. Before we left, Debra and I peeked into the apartment next door to see the incredible original frescos on the living room wall. We visited Luigi, a restorer whose small cluttered studio was next door to the apartment we were vacating (we'll be returning to his studio later in the week when everybody is here). Here's a picture of Luigi and Ivano, who chatted in Italian a long time (it seems all the conversations in Italian take a long time)--Ivano is originally from Pisa. That's Debra in the background taking pictures and in the foreground, Federico, the guy who manages the apartment we stayed in last night. The next picture of the baby Jesus is a sculpture Luigi is restoring (I'm assuming it's the baby Jesus because it doesn't have wings...but then maybe I'm wrong...shouldn't it have a halo? Maybe it...

I'm too tired to even write. I slept fitfully on the plane from Atlanta to Paris, then from Paris to Florence. Debra and Ivano were there to pick me up. We dropped off my luggage in the 14th century apartment we're staying in tonight, clinked champagne glasses together, shared some parmesan cheese and mortadella, then they took me on an afternoon tour of Florence and we took a look at the studio I'll be teaching in later. Several glasses of wine and an authentic Italian pasta dinner later, I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'll write tomorrow.

I will be in Florence, Italy, tomorrow afternoon. I have never been to Italy. It's somewhat overwhelming to be doing this all by myself. Debra and Ivano Zamperla will meet me at the Florence airport. Debra contacted me out of the blue many years ago, asking if I'd like to teach a workshop in Ann Arbor. I did, and then I did it again, staying in their home, and felt like I'd found old friends. Debra is an accomplished artist, ( http://debrazamperla.wix.com/design ); her husband Ivano was an art student in Italy when they met many years ago. He left his home and his art career to marry a woman he loved more. Today Ivano is an artist with wood (check out his flyer to the left. I hope it's big enough to read). And nowadays they conduct art workshops back in Ivano's home. Which is why I'm sitting in the Atlanta airport right now. I'll be writing from Florence for the next few weeks. The other picture of mine, a pastel sitting right now in Stewart...

http://www.labonneetoile.com/workshops/Dyer2015.pdf

I have been a little overwhelmed. I think I went into paralysis mode after I committed myself several months ago to two workshops in Europe in 2015. The first in Florence, Italy, in May (oy) and the second in France in late August (veh). What was I thinking? Actually, first I went into denial...nobody's going to sign up, neither class will make, nothing to worry about. Then the paralysis set in; I avoided advertising them because, of course, they weren't going to happen. When I was notified last week by Debra Zamperla (the wonderful artist friend who, with her genuinely Italian husband, Ivano, is orchestrating the Italy class) that the 8th person had finalized their commitment, that it was time to purchase our flights, I believe that is when my denial subsided, culminating in a bona fide anxiety attack on Tuesday. Oy veh. No kidding. Breathing into a brown paper bag. Which doesn't help, by the way. So, now I have to deal with THE FRANCE WORKSHOP!!! Kippy (if you ...

There's still room in my Italy and France workshops!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Hanukkah. Thank you for following my blog through the year. I wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2015.

I've been kind of freaking out. I have made the commitment to teach 2 workshops in Europe this coming year. In fear that I've overcommitted myself, and that neither class would make, I've been paralyzed. But I'm beginning to think this is really going to happen. In May, 2015, I am going to teach in Italy. The class is not full yet, but the spaces are filling. The 5 day class is limited to 10 students. We'll spend 13 days in a private villa in the Santa Croce section of Florence. We'll have 3 apartments so we will be 4 per apartment. Cafes and shops are right outside and it's only a 10 minute walk to the  Accademia D'ARTE,  where our class will be held.  Check out the school:  www.accademiadarte.it . This trip is being orchestrated by Debra and Ivano Zamperla, both talented artists, who have hosted several of my workshops in their home town, Ann Arbor, MI. Ivano is from Italy, and he knows his home well, so we'll be in good hands. Here's D...